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Ball joint flip and engine mods

Tech talk for GMH/Isuzu and Great Wall owners

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Ball joint flip and engine mods

Post by Unit »

Hey guys how are we all

Ive noticed in the roll call that a couple of you guys have done ball joint flips. ive got a 94 jackaroo and i was wonderin if anyone had any info for me on doin the flip. also does anyone no if it is legal to perform the mod in QLD and how does if affect the handlin and the travel.

My rig is powered by the 4JG2 i was wonderin if anyone has any info about gettin some more bit out of it.
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Post by saigo »

There are a couple of links is here that have very good intructions with photos.

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=19813

I believe you do need a engineers cert.

If you look into the Sticky: GMH/Isuzu FAQ/Tech
You well find many interesting hours of reading and most likely answer many of your question or create more.
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Post by GOT MUD »

ill let mudtrooper know you need some info on this he has done it and lives in qld but he doesnt come on here much but ill see how i go :D
PUT YOUR HANDS UP IF YOU WANT TO GO FASTER
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Post by Unit »

ok thanks mate
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Post by jackdup »

gday i did it on a 87 jackaroo couple days ago, hasnt effected the steering much although i would recomend a wheel alignment wasnt hard took about 30 mins, and got 2 inchs of lift, havent been out 4x4n latley so couldnt tell u how the articulation is,

1. jack and remove tyre put on stands (yeah pretty obvious)
2. the upper ball joint on the 87 has 4 12mm bolts and nuts holding it and a 22mm bolt
3. stick another jack under the discs to hold the side ur doing up i stuck mine under the lower ball joint
4. make sure the second jack holds the weight, then remove the split pin and nut from the upper ball joint
5. lower the second jack slowly untill the ball joint breaks free be carefull as it may spring back!!!!
6. after it has broken free undo the 4 bolts and nuts holding it in place
7. remove the ball joint, u may have to use a hammer i find if u smack the corner of the cast join it breaks free
8. there should be a round hole left with 4 smaller holes 2 on either side beside it
9. with the ball joint u place it on the underside of the join repeat the process in reverse and there u go.


sorry the instructions r a bit crude and on the less technical side if u can decifer it. it works
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:
i dont take any responsabilty for the faluire of parts or in the event of an accident whether human or car u do this particlular mod on ur own free will.
holden jackaroo, 31s, 3" body, 3" shackle lift, 3 point saas harness, saas seat
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Post by Utemad »

jackdup wrote:gday i did it on a 87 jackaroo couple days ago, hasnt effected the steering much although i would recomend a wheel alignment wasnt hard took about 30 mins, and got 2 inchs of lift, havent been out 4x4n latley so couldnt tell u how the articulation is
I haven't bothered with this mod myself but I was under the impression that on an Isuzu the ball joint flip (with or without spacer) was to help correct your alignment after a big torsion bar wind lift? The flip does not provide any lift by itself.

Correct me if I'm wrong.
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Post by jackdup »

yeah the flip i did, lifted it the 2", so u may be right, some cars it may only correct it, not sure, herd it from a mate who suggested it,u know how it is worth a shot even if for the alignment
holden jackaroo, 31s, 3" body, 3" shackle lift, 3 point saas harness, saas seat
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Post by sudso »

Just had it done on my Rodeo.
He wound the bars up to get the lift - 2". Result was that the upper control arm bump stop was now just resting on the opposing stop but the shockers still have about another inch of down travel.

Also the correct camber is unnattainable because of the lift.
The easiest remedy for this is to flip the upper ball joints which alters the geometry and allows the correct camber to be set again, allows a bit more down travel and the upper bump stop doesn't rest on the stop.
The wheel aligner said he couldn't have aligned properly it if he didn't flip the ball joints.

As Utemad said, flipping the upper ball joints doesn't lift the front it just makes the distance greater between the upper and lower control arms which gives a bit more wheel travel and to get correct alignment. Sometimes spacers are added to give more travel.

I've now got a measurement of 755mm from the bottom of the rim (15") to the lip of the guards.
Next on the list is a 30-40mm body lift for extra tyre clearance.
It seems to handle no differently but it's a lot stiffer at the front of course.
Just got to lift the rear again now to get a little bit of "rake" back. Might just extend the original Holden shackles 1st. as a trial and see how it behaves. The Holden ones are actually a bit meatier than the greasable ones that came with the spring kit!

:?: Is there another photo host site other than photobucket? I seem to have trouble getting my pics from there to a post :x
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Post by jackdup »

well with the vote againest me, maybe its an illusion of lift having the torsion bar at its max, it may of squared it of with the rear, the rear has 10" above the tyre, the front now has 8.5" measured it last nite :oops: , if u go to www.cardomain.com u can get a page for ur car pics ive got mine there its under isuzu trooper, the description aussie trooper in the build pics. check it out sum time :twisted:
holden jackaroo, 31s, 3" body, 3" shackle lift, 3 point saas harness, saas seat
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Post by 99Rodeo »

I just went out and measured the height of mine from the guard as you describe Sudso.

Ive got 725mm with 15 inch rims also. Mines standard and has never been adjusted to the best of my knowledge. Its also got a steel TJM winch bar hanging off the front which may bring it down a bit.

Can someone else with a Rodeo post the measurements of theirs please.

This may mean that Sudso can go another inch higher.
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Post by sudso »

99Rodeo wrote:I just went out and measured the height of mine from the guard as you describe Sudso.

Ive got 725mm with 15 inch rims also. Mines standard and has never been adjusted to the best of my knowledge. Its also got a steel TJM winch bar hanging off the front which may bring it down a bit.

Can someone else with a Rodeo post the measurements of theirs please.

This may mean that Sudso can go another inch higher.
Mines wound up almost as far as they can go without having them re-indexed. Also have a steel bull bar, and a winch.
Bordertrek 4X4 & Fabrication
0400 250 734 Bordertown SA
I love terra firma-the less firma the more terra
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